Small aircraft pilot flew VFR in IMC conditions.

Attributes
ACN	440409
Time
Date	199906
Day	Mon
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : rnt.airport
State Reference	WA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 1000 msl bound upper : 1500
Environment
Flight Conditions	Mixed
Weather Elements	Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air taxi
Make Model Name	PA-23-250 Turbo Aztec
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 135
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air taxi
Function	flight crew : single pilot oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 150 flight time total : 5500 flight time type : 150
ASRS Report	440409
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather inflight encounter : vfr in imc non adherence : company policies non adherence : far non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

After clearing customs at bli, I chose to proceed on the last leg of the trip under VFR. The leg would take 35-40 mins and the departure was 3000+ ft ceiling and good visibility as was bfi, which is very close to S50, the destination. Approximately 1/2 way, I transitioned pae's class D airspace. Pae was reporting a ceiling of 1600 ft but I was forced to descend to approximately 1000 ft AGL to maintain VMC. Visibility was good but deteriorating. I listened to ATIS at rnt, now less than 15 NM ahead and rnt was reporting better than 3000 ft and 10 NM. Local familiarity with the area and knowledge of the WX ahead caused me to assume the WX not too bad to continue. I was also on the approach corridor and using the rnt NDB to navigation. For a period of 6-7 NM and 2.5 - 3 mins, I continued the flight in less than VMC conditions. I should have turned around at pae and possibly circled 10-15 NM to the west or talked to center or sea approach and received a clearance. 'Never again' I think is the saying!

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: SMA PLT FLEW VFR IN IMC CONDITIONS.

Narrative: AFTER CLRING CUSTOMS AT BLI, I CHOSE TO PROCEED ON THE LAST LEG OF THE TRIP UNDER VFR. THE LEG WOULD TAKE 35-40 MINS AND THE DEP WAS 3000+ FT CEILING AND GOOD VISIBILITY AS WAS BFI, WHICH IS VERY CLOSE TO S50, THE DEST. APPROX 1/2 WAY, I TRANSITIONED PAE'S CLASS D AIRSPACE. PAE WAS RPTING A CEILING OF 1600 FT BUT I WAS FORCED TO DSND TO APPROX 1000 FT AGL TO MAINTAIN VMC. VISIBILITY WAS GOOD BUT DETERIORATING. I LISTENED TO ATIS AT RNT, NOW LESS THAN 15 NM AHEAD AND RNT WAS RPTING BETTER THAN 3000 FT AND 10 NM. LCL FAMILIARITY WITH THE AREA AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE WX AHEAD CAUSED ME TO ASSUME THE WX NOT TOO BAD TO CONTINUE. I WAS ALSO ON THE APCH CORRIDOR AND USING THE RNT NDB TO NAV. FOR A PERIOD OF 6-7 NM AND 2.5 - 3 MINS, I CONTINUED THE FLT IN LESS THAN VMC CONDITIONS. I SHOULD HAVE TURNED AROUND AT PAE AND POSSIBLY CIRCLED 10-15 NM TO THE W OR TALKED TO CTR OR SEA APCH AND RECEIVED A CLRNC. 'NEVER AGAIN' I THINK IS THE SAYING!

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.